29 Chord Progressions to Get You Going
The following list of chord sequences, or progressions, is suited for beginner guitar players. All the chords on this page are open-position chords that are fairly easy to press with your fretting hand.
Along with the progressions, I've also included chord diagrams for each chord involved. This way, you can easily look them up without distracting your attention by going somewhere else.
Knowing a number of chord progressions will help you write accompaniments for your own songs. You can use them as a starting point to put your lyrics on and feel free to mix and match other chords as you hear fit. Additionally, you can use these progressions to compose and write your own jamming tracks.
1.
Am- - - C- - - G- - - Em
Used in the verse of 'Fade to Black' by Metallica.
2.
Em- - - C- - - G- - - D
Used with some variations in the verse of 'Numb' by Linking Park.
3.
Am- - - - - - - G- - - Em
Great guitar chord progression for slow songs and ballads.
4.
G- - - Em- - - C- - - D
à la '60s.
5.
Am- - - Dm- - - C- - - G
6.
Am- - - G- - - F- - - E
A sort of progression often used in flamenco, you might quickly alternate the last E chord with the F chord several times to make it sound even more flamenco-like.
7.
Am- - - D- - - C- - - F
Similar to 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' by Nirvana.
8.
C- - - G- - - Am- - - F
Used in 'With or Without You' by U2.
9. The previous progression extended:
C- - - G- - - Am- - - F- - - Dm- - - F- - - Am- - - G
10.
Am- - - - - - F- - - G
A simple and well sounding chord sequence often found in rock and pop music.
11.
Am- - - F- - - G- - - Em
A variation on the 10th progression.
12. The previous one extended:
Am- - - F- - - G- - - Em- - - F- - - Dm- - - G- - - Am
13.
Dm- - - Am- - - G- - - F
Used in the verse of 'Mystify' by INXS.
14.
Em- - - Am7- - - C2- - - D
In the intro of 'Animal Instinct' by the Cranberries.
15.
Am- - - C- - - Dm- - - F
In the verse of 'I Kissed a Girl' by Katy Perry.
16.
Em- - - G- - - D- - - A
17.
Am- - - G- - - Em- - - F
18.
Bm7- - - G- - - D- - - Dsus2
In the verse of 'The Scientist' by Coldplay.
19.
C- - - G- - - D- - - Em
Used in the chorus of 'Breakeven' by The Script.
20.
C- - - Em- - - Am- - - F
In 'Queen UK' by Bob Schneider.
21. A beautiful, jazzy-sounding sequence:
Cmaj7- - - Am7- - - Fmaj7- - - Em7
22. Twelve-Bar Blues Progression:
A7 - X4 - - D7 - X2 - - A7 - X2 - - E7- - - D7- - - A7 - X2
23.
Am- - - F- - - Dm- - - Em
24.
A- - - E- - - D- - - A
Used in 'Chasing Cars' by Snow Patrol.
25.
Am- - - G- - - F- - - Em - G
26.
Am- - - B7- - - Dm- - - E7
27.
Em- - - C- - - D7- - - G- - - C- - - Am- - - B7- - - Em
28.
Dm- - - G- - - C- - - Am
29.
Am- - - C- - - Dm- - - G
Many songs I mentioned in this chart were originally played in different keys, I adapted (transposed) these chord sequences to better suit beginning and "lazy" guitar players to make it possible to play each progression using only open chords.
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